EDTC 6332 Practicum

Reflection Three

On my last reflection page, I spoke about my capstone project conducted in a real life academic school setting. My clients (teachers) are looking forward to seeing the final project and to learn new teaching and communication techniques. In fact, I’m still working with Mr. Raul Ibarra to learn more about the teachers’ previous knowledge and expectations. He provided answers to a few more questions about teachers’ characteristics, workplace conditions, and learners’ needs.

I have accomplished collecting data on the following information about the teachers and their working conditions to guide the development of the training materials:

·         Educational and ability levels
·         Attitudes toward training organization
·         Group characteristics
·         Relevance of skills to workplace
·         Compatibility of the site with the learner needs
·         Compatibility of the site with the instructional requirements
·         Feasibility for simulating the workplace

For my short-term work objectives, I plan to begin work on first-level task analysis and the instructional diagram. I will follow Dick and Carey model’s instructional diagram sample. I noticed Carla’s diagram example is not colored; I do plan to add color to each section diagram conventions. By distinguishing each of the subordinate skills in color, teachers will easily be able to identify particular actions performed.

I am not concern about the framework of the subordinate skills required to perform for each main step of the instructional goal. But I am concerned about how to create text boxes and arrows for instructional diagram. I have minimal patience to create, draw and move text boxes and arrows and place them exactly where I want them to be. Not to mention, I must create four Terminal Objectives in lieu of three to Carla's diagram example. Because of the modifications I will be making and not having lots of experience, I plan to create the instructional diagram as my next task on my timeline.

This is the part where I am to provide my advice to my classmates; however, this time I wish my classmates would provide advice to me. I need advice on what I can do to have patience. Yes, patience! I am so impatient to get my homework done, I don't have time to enjoy a Sunday morning with a cup of coffee and watch colorful birds eat birdfeed outside my front window.

This week, I received my degree audit letter from the Office of Graduate Studies, informing me I have two courses that are incomplete. This made me more stressed until I realized something. Well of course, they are incomplete - I'm still taking them! Ugh! I understand this letter is to keep me informed which is great; however, in my mind it’s telling me "hurry up you are running out of time." If I feel that I am running out of time, I feel I'm procrastinating (something I hate to do), and if I feel I'm procrastinating then I'm being impatience with myself.

However, if my classmates' advice is for me to take a break - I don't want to hear it. I don't have time to give myself a break. Or if they want me to figure out why I'm in such a hurry - I'll tell them why. I have so much school work I feel I'm not swimming fast enough and I'm quickly drowning. In addition to the work for the classes, the electronic portfolio must be submitted before graduation.

I do remind myself that to do these things well, it takes time and I do try to have a positive outlook. I realize that eventually I will get all my homework completed and put the two courses and electronic portfolio behind me. I suppose writing this reflection page helps me stay focused, helps me reflect and take deep breaths which in turns calms me down. That gives me some sort of patience but now I must hurry and get my work done.